Echo site

[Fagan]

The site is down but managed to get this.


Benitez’s positive outlook
RAFA BENITEZ says his plea for immediate action at Anfield to revive Liverpool’s morale after the Champions League final defeat has been met with a positive response from the American owners. more


Reds must act fast to get the right players

Bellamy is set for Rovers return

Mersey duo set to play in Estonia

Season of much food for thought

Player of the season: Steven Gerrard

Click here for more Reds news

[tomasjj]

SG player of the season!?!?!

[PLY]

Anything of interest in the Echo is mentioned here -

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=25295

[Red Wino]

SG player of the season!?!?!

Not in my book...

[AFII]

Bellamy is set for Rovers return
May 30 2007
by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

BLACKBURN ROVERS are set to put their pursuit of James Beattie on hold - to try to lure Craig Bellamy away from Liverpool.

Rovers were preparing a move for Beattie earlier in the week but will concentrate on landing other top targets before pressing ahead with a bid to bring him back to the club where he began his career.

And Bellamy is top of the list drawn up by Ewood manager Mark Hughes, who has overseen the Welshman’s best form of his career at both club and country level.

The price could be a stumbling block as Liverpool look to make a significant gain on the £6million that triggered Bellamy’s exit clause last summer.


But Hughes is believed to be willing to enter negotiations for a player whose 17 goals in his one season at the club played a major part in their UEFA Cup qualification.

Bellamy, however, is also set to be the subject of a bid from Aston Villa, who are in a significantly better bargaining position than Blackburn as American owner Randy Lerner continues to pledge his commitment to investing in the team during the close season.

This could also involve making a move for Harry Kewell, but the Australian is determined to see out the remaining year of his Anfield contract to prove to manager Rafael Benitez that he is worthy of a place in his rebuilding programme.

But whatever happens Benitez, currently on holiday, is close to completing the £8m signing of Lyon midfielder Florent Malouda, a deal he hopes to seal by the end of the week.

Blackburn will now wait to see how the Bellamy situation fits around their monitoring of other targets, including Beattie.

But in terms of interest in the Everton striker, Hughes has also been forced into a re-think by the late-season form of Jason Roberts, who hadn’t scored for the club until the middle of April but ended the season with five goals in six games.

That has convinced Hughes, for the time being, that Rovers have an in-form striker who can play a similar role to Beattie, who only scored two penalties during last season.

The implications for Everton hardly alter, however, as Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is still considering lining up a bid for the forward.

Everton manager David Moyes has not publicly declared he has no intention of selling the 29-year-old – which he did ahead of the January transfer window – and is set to seriously consider any offers this time.

He will need funds to assist his own squad building, which is set to start with the £4.5m capture of Phil Jagielka from Sheffield United next week.

Relegated United are, however, insistent that they can persuade the midfielder to stay and help them get back into the Premiership.

And yesterday they released a statement that said: “The Blades would like to confirm that no agreements are in place with any club with regards to Jagielka.

“Media speculation is rife regarding Jagielka’s future in light of United's relegation and his recent inclusion in the England B team.

“However, he remains a contracted Blades player and new boss Bryan Robson watched him in action for England B against Albania.”

Across the city, reports that Everton have made a £3m bid for American international Frankie Simek have been dismissed as “a load of bull.”

The 22-year-old defender, who began his career at Arsenal, has been a mainstay of Sheffield Wednesday’s sustained progress in the Championship over the past two seasons.

But Wednesday manager Brian Laws said: “I’ve heard nothing, as far as I’m concerned it’s a load of bull.

“I have had no contact from Everton or any other such club regarding Frankie Simek and in the end Frankie Simek is not for sale.”

One piece of business between Everton and a Championship club that is set to go ahead is Richard Wright’s return to Ipswich Town.

But according to Town’s manager Jim Magilton, their attempts to bring back the former Arsenal goalkeeper, who is out of contract at Goodison, are still at the negotiating table.

Magilton said: “I have not sat down with Richard or his agent to discuss terms.

“Richard has expressed a desire to return to Ipswich, but nothing concrete has been decided.”

# SAMI HYYPIA has revealed that Rafael Benitez wants him to see out the remaining year of his contract at Anfield. The 33-year-old Finnish centre-back said: “Rafa said, ‘We are happy with you and you are not for sale.’ I will go back to Liverpool in July for pre-season training.”

CLICKY - Daily Post

[tomasjj]

Agreed.

Finnan, Agger or Reina perhaps.

[Joe Le Toff]

Agreed.

Finnan, Agger or Reina perhaps.